At 77, Facundo is retired, receiving a monthly pension of just 3,000 Cuban pesos. This modest amount barely lasts him through the first week. To feed himself, he takes on any physical labor he can find, regardless of the strain or the state of his knees.
Cuban filmmaker and photographer Carlos Batista captured his story in a video shared on Instagram, which has garnered over 31,000 reactions. It paints a stark picture of old age in Cuba as of 2026.
The footage shows Facundo shirtless, covered in red dirt, inside a ditch, holding rocks with his bare hands. This isn't an unusual scene in his life; it's his daily routine.
"I'm 77 and retired, but my pension doesn't cover anything," he laments. "If someone says, 'come dig a hole for me,' I'll dig. 'Help me clear the yard,' I'll clear it. 'Assist the builder,' and I'm there to help."
His honesty reveals a hard truth: "That's my life. It doesn't allow me to live, but it lets me eat for two or three days."
The Dire Arithmetic of Survival
Facundo's financial struggle is severe. His 3,000-peso pension must cover essential expenses, like a sack of charcoal costing 2,000 pesos. Cooking oil, he notes, is priced at 5,000 pesos. "Who can live like this?" he asks, a mix of frustration and resignation in his voice.
Despite his worn-out knees, he pushes on. "It's my legs, the knees—they're in bad shape. But still, I move forward," he says.
A Widespread Issue Among Cuban Retirees
Facundo's situation is not unique but rather typical. A survey by the Independent Trade Union Association of Cuba reveals that 99% of retirees say their pensions don't cover food, housing, and medicine. Meanwhile, 90.7% engage in informal work to make ends meet, and 79% of those over 70 can't afford three meals a day.
The government set the minimum pension at 4,000 pesos in September 2025, equating to less than 10 dollars on the informal market, barely covering a small part of the basic food basket, which is estimated between 12,000 and 30,000 pesos per person in Havana.
Official inflation, as reported by the National Office of Statistics and Information, hit 20.70% year-on-year in July, with food prices accounting for 63.18% of the total increase.
Additional Economic and Resource Crises
The economic turmoil is compounded by energy and water shortages. Facundo succinctly describes the hardship: "You know what it's like to go to bed without electricity, wake up without electricity, sleep without water, and rise without water." Power outages on the island often exceed 24 hours, affecting nearly 2.7 million Cubans who lack regular access to potable water.
Cuba is now the oldest country in Latin America, with 26.7% of its population aged 60 or older by the end of 2025, totaling over 2.5 million people. The mass migration of young people exacerbates the crisis; deaths in 2025 doubled the number of births.
Facundo concludes his testimony with a poignant reflection on unfulfilled promises: "I never thought my old age would be like this."
Understanding the Struggles of Cuban Retirees
Why do Cuban retirees like Facundo struggle financially?
Cuban retirees face financial challenges due to insufficient pensions that don't cover basic living expenses like food, housing, and medicine. Economic factors such as high inflation and low pension values contribute to this struggle.
What are the consequences of the pension system on older adults in Cuba?
The inadequate pension system forces many older adults to engage in informal work to survive. It also leads to nutritional deficiencies, as a significant portion cannot afford three meals a day.
How do energy and water shortages affect Cuban citizens?
Energy and water shortages severely impact daily life, with frequent power outages and limited access to potable water. This exacerbates the already challenging living conditions for many Cubans.